and sure enough, willow atkins's tease earlier might just hold some semblance of truth as lance is genuinely having trouble picking her out from the crowd. in his defense (poor defense), he's had a couple of drinks, it's dark, and there are a lot of masks to sift through.[break][break]

but he has no issues picking out boruta maher. as much as lance dislikes the thought, if anyone may know where she is, it's probably him. so he approaches his fellow ranger captain with a drink in hand.[break][break]

"surprised to see you here, maher. looking real sharp, too. nice suit."[break][break]

he pats bo on his shoulder, fake-friendly more than anything.[break][break]

"have you, uh, seen will yet?"[break][break]

notes:[break]
- chatting with boruta maher[break]

[attr="class","ooc"]LANCE VOLLANS[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-shedinja"]

A shock of recognition comes in the wake of Gunner Graves 's departure. He's already stepping into the gathering crowd when Skyler's voice pipes up over the general din of conversation, bold as brass.
[break][break]
"I'll hold you to that, Bond!"
[break][break]
She would. Lilycove's docks offered endless possibilities for those who were looking to make trouble and have a good time - and Skyler had become intimately acquainted with most of them.
[break][break]
For now, she'll make do with a more tame endeavor. For now. Formal wear and politeness had never stopped her from making a nuisance out of herself before, and if the drink that Kazimir Wynter fetches her is any indication, so wouldn't the drinks.
[break][break]
"Gravedigger, huh? That's what I'm talking about!" She exclaims, eyes bright and lips unfurling into a lopsided smile as she accepts the glass. Barely a glance is given at its contents before Skyler takes a generous, fearless gulp.
[break][break]
Oh...!
[break][break]
Compared to the hard liquor within her flask, this is definitely higher quality. By a mile.
[break][break]
Sweet, too.
[break][break]
While not usually her poison of choice, the captain can't help licking her lips, a pleased hum leaving her throat as she goes to take another sip of it. "Fuuuck, this is really good. That'll show me for shitting on 'em without really giving them a chance. I think I might have another." She wasn't even close to finishing this one.
[break][break]
As if taking that as a challenge, a nice portion of it disappears into her mouth.
[break][break]
As soon as her attention is diverted from the alcoholic beverage, however, she finally allows herself the time to give Kazimir Wynter a slow once-over, taking in the way white fabric stretches over the massive length of his shoulders, and how it hugs a muscled frame. Impressive. And weirdly familiar.
[break][break]
"I feel like I know you." Her brows furrow and Skyler steps forward, right up against the masked man. Wholly uncaring for personal space as she peers up at his mask - as if she could divine his identity just by squinting harder. Her head tilts, pensive. "I wouldn't forget those muscles."
[break][break]

[attr="class","notes"]outfit | coat | mask[break]- parting shot for Gunner Graves. she just wants to be a bad influence, forgive her[break]- accepts Kazimir Wynter's drink and is pleasantly surprised[break]- chats with Kazimir Wynter and attempts to identify him (it's the muscles really)

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

the shoulder pads on nagi's suit are too wide. the weight of the foam feels unwieldy, too broad and too stiff under the forward curl of his shoulders. his dress shirt, at least, fits; he'd gotten it, and a pair of grey slacks, tailored after he had received his first  salary at hbs — the first two of the now three pieces of formal clothing he owns.[break][break]

nagi couldn’t not attend; if only to show support for his boss PENELOPE LIVY . he's read the dossier for the event three times over; taken time to memorise the names of sponsors (even if he can't place them with any faces), but he finds himself out-of-sorts nonetheless. the gilded grandeur of the venue: light glittering off sequins and dress shoes clicking across the polished floor; the sweeping crescendoes of the woodwinds and strings in Niky Racz ’s orchestra — it’s lavish. tasteful. elegantly expensive in a way that makes him feel self-conscious in the scuffed-up leather shoes he had 'forgotten' to oil for two years and counting.[break][break]

it helps, then, that they’re all play-acting; no one knows him, and if he doesn’t try to guess, he can carry on without knowing anyone else. it’s the anonymity he’d raised himself on as an adolescent on the internet, in masked, extravagant flesh. even if the glue he used on his domino mask may be giving him a rash. [break][break]

taking the long way round the perimeter of the ballroom, sticking so close to the sidelines his ill-fitting shoulder-pads dust the wall every few steps, he drifts his way to the bar, where he squints down at the menu with the muted unease of someone with a family history of alcoholism. [break][break]

“a monarch black bergamot, please.”[break][break]

he curls his hands around the glass when the drink is served, letting the heat from the tea suffuse his chilled fingertips with steadying warmth. the bright fragrance of bergamot and citrus bursts on his tongue when he sips, wrapped in the embrace of gentle vanilla. floral and subtly bittersweet — comfort in a cup.[break][break]

he finishes the drink faster than he means to, and makes a mental note to visit Xiura Balfaltin ’s cafe sometime in the near future.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] outfit (img credit)[break]
+ PROMPT 2: BREAK OUT THE BUBBLY (monarch black bergamot)[break]
+ hanging by the bar drinking tea[break]
+ open to interaction![break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-litwick"]

Intentional the hint had been and, of course, john nelson picked up on it right away.

"Nice to see you too, John. You know I'd never let you flounder for too long." Gideon replied lowly, a distinct warmth in his voice. His arrival had had the desired effect in that his friend seemed to visibly relax, maybe even shake off some of his nerves a little bit. Enough to enjoy the rest of his evening?

Hopefully, because already the office worker was proving to be a hot commodity. Niky Racz in particular was rather complimentary, but a new face in the form of Xiura Balfaltin arrived as well to request a dance.

"Well, aren't you quite popular tonight. No surprise there, though." Although their reunion was short-lived, Gideon felt only happy relief that his friend was finding fun and companionship at the event.

With an amiable pat on John's back and a parting nod the museum direction stepped away, saying, "Enjoy your dances. Maybe save one for me if you have the time."

So it seemed Elisabeth Fiorelli's wolfish plotting had been successful, unbeknownst to Gideon.

Inevitably as the ballroom doors opened and a chorus of sweet instrumental notes spilled from the chamber, Gideon's eyes scanned the masses of suits and dresses and masked faces for one in particular. She did not take long to find; Elisa exuded a radiant confidence that no one could miss.

"I believe I was promised a first dance." A guiding hand was offered, palm-up, for her to take. "Shall we?"

• suit check + mask
• good luck john nelson!! have fun!
• first dance time ♡ Elisabeth Fiorelli
• prompt #1 (dance the night away)

☉

Kepler snorted a laugh, resting his head against the outside of Ash’s arm. “I tried to grab one as I was, you know, free falling back to earth. Can’t imagine why I missed.”

It was… slightly a stretch on the truth. Pluto had had him slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. But Kepler had been otherwise occupied, with the meteor’s disappearance and the opening of rifts all over Hoenn-- a sight he’d gotten to witness from a bird-eye view, firsthand.

“We can find one together, anyway,” he added, hasty, not entirely prepared for Ash to go off and have his own adventures by himself, yet. Part of him knew it was just a matter of time, but Kepler wanted to hold on as long as he could. Those moments in the hospital and before, when he hadn’t known if Ash was alive or dead, or if he was going to be okay-okay, had been the scariest moments of his life. Even scarier than that time he’d gotten handcuffed to a bike rack and left on the street in a thunderstorm…

He shakes his head, dispelling the memories, grounding himself in the feeling of Ash at his side and the warmth and glamor of the night.

“We can mingle!” Kepler says, eyes still locked on Naomi Sato ’s Tera Shard; his endeavors to approach her and question her about it are interrupted by someone (angelo vestri ), who, by the tell of his handshake, is already doing something along those very same lines.

A Bulbasaur passes with a tray of beverages. “Or, um. A drink first? A drink first.”

He doesn’t drink often. Alcohol makes his heart do bass boosted hurdy gurdy. But he’s starting to get nervous, so he uses his free hand to grab something that appears remotely drinkable as the doors to the ballroom sweep wide and, like a current, they get drawn towards the dance floor.

“Do you want to dance?” he asked, looking up. “My parents made me take ballroom dance lessons as a kid. For some fucking reason unbeknownst to manki-- oh, shit, sorry!”

luka chêne ’s dreamlike, melodic swaying put her right on a collision course with Kepler’s drink arm, though he’s quick enough to jump out of the way as it hits the ground with a wet plop.

“I didn’t spill on you, did I?”

---

+ spill a drink oops

[attr="class","mintag"] Ashley Shepard luka chêne
outfit | mask | hair